I'm moving to Montreal in a month so I would love to learn French before I go. So far I've been taking a stab at Duolingo, but learning a new language is hard! And this is coming from someone who already knows two. I'd also love to learn more about European history. I learned US history and I know it very well, but European history is a gaping hole in my education s of now.
It's a big city so it really depends on your interests. If you're a foodie there are lots of cool restaurants all around. You ll probably to the classic Montreal stuff like eat the bagels and smoked meat and walk up the Mount Royal within your first week or so and then it's just a matter of finding your favorite spots in the city. Let me know what you like and I might have some suggestions :)